For ISS faculty and staff, it was extraordinary seeing our first set of ISS graduates walk across the stage and receive recognition for fulfilling their graduation requirements at UW. On June 12^th, 2016, we held our first graduation ceremony, honoring graduates from Autumn 2015 all the way through Summer 2016. Over twenty of our forty-five graduates attended, bringing family and friends along to help them celebrate.  While most attendees were from the Washington area, we had guests from as far away as California and Florida in attendance.  Dean Judith Howard spoke, along with Director Matt Sparke and Director of Academic Services, Mel Wensel, and key Lecturer Polly Myers.

The graduation ceremony represents a milestone in the progress of ISS, which began just two years ago in Autumn Quarter of 2014.  Our graduates are an accomplished, dedicated, and talented group of students representing a diversity of life-experiences, including parents, retirees, and people who have had to balance a full-time job with school to complete their degree.  Some of our students graduated on the Dean’s List, others vastly improved their GPAs from before, and all can proudly tell their families and friends that they completed their BA.  In short, they are amazing!  Please join us in applauding our first cohort of ISS graduates!